Precision farming contributing to sustainable food production

Aug 2011

Austria

Increasing food production to meet the
needs of the world’s growing population,
currently 6.7 billion and set to reach
8.2 billion by 2050, is one of the major
challenges confronting the world. On the
face of our planet the land suitable for
agriculture is limited and its extension into
other areas, such as decertified or forest
covered lands, often raises environmental
problems.

The optimisation of crop quality from
existing agricultural land is therefore
essential to meet the growing world
population food needs. Achieving the
necessary balance of quantitative and
qualitative crop production in a sustainable
way lies in what is known as the ‘precision
farming’ concept. Precision farming is
based on providing crops with exactly the
right amount of fertiliser needed at each
stage of their growing cycle, thereby
preventing the rinse-off of excess nutrients,
thus preserving the quality of both the soil
and water resources. And, that fertiliser
need is determined by measurements taken
directly from the crop itself.

To convert arid land puts unsustainable pressure on available water
resources and adversely affects communities already suffering from
water shortage. Moreover, gaining agriculture land from deforestation
would accelerate global warming as forests play a vital role in
absorbing CO2. Also, a significant loss of trees in the environment
can lead to erosion and unstable soil conditions, with an increased
likelihood of damaging landslides.

Preserving soil quality and water resources of agricultural lands while
optimising yields is therefore key to addressing the world food
challenge. In this context, the sustainable use of mineral fertilisers
plays an essential role.

Precision farming, through the optimal use of fertilisers, enables
farmers more effective and efficient use of their existing land to
increase crop size and quality. In assessing the correct level of
fertiliser for crops such as wheat, barley and rye, of which nitrogen
is of prime importance, the farmer is now aided by the N-Tester.
The N-Tester is a hand-held device enabling the simple and fast
measurement of a crop’s chlorophyll content, which is the key
indicator of its nitrogen status. Requiring only 30 quick leaf
measurements across a field and within a few minutes it provides
the farmer with a precise measure of the crop’s exact N-fertiliser
needs.

Use of the N-Tester is a significant advance on the methods currently
practised. Soil sampling and laboratory analysis are time intensive
and costly. Judgement of fertiliser needs based on the farmer’s
personal experience, is complicated by the introduction of new crop
species each year. Recommendations of fertiliser producers cannot
always take into account differences in soil quality or changing
climatic conditions. While a combination of the farmer’s judgement
and the producers’ recommendations are still important, the N-Tester
gives more accurate information to support them.

Nitrogen testing improves fertilisation practice

As a fertiliser solutions provider and long-term partner for farmers,
Borealis Agrolinz Melamine initiated a project in 2002 to evaluate
the N-Tester among 40 Austrian farmers. This has been carried out
in conjunction with Yara, the N-Tester producer; RWA Raiffeisen
Ware Austria AG, a marketer of farming products and the Agentur
für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (Agency for Health and
Food safety).

“From this small beginning approximately 130 farmers are now
actively using the N-Tester device,” says Wolfgang Hofmair, Marketing
Manager, Borealis Agrolinz Melamine.

“

This is of course still a small
number when set against the 70.000 full-time farmers in Austria.
Cost of the device may have been part of the reason for this slow
take-up but this is changing as some farmers are joining together
to share an N-Tester.

Wolfgang Hofmair —Marketing Manager, Borealis Agrolinz Melamine

One of the first to use the N-Tester was Franz Kastenhuber who is
both the owner of a 30 ha farm, 30 km west of Linz, and a lecturer
at the Lambach Agricultural School where he uses the N-Tester in
his teaching.

“

Precision farming is the future, but changing
the way farmers think and act takes time. Therefore it’s vital to
convince the young farmers of tomorrow of its value and the
importance of tools, such as the N-Tester, in its success.

Franz Kastenhuber —Lecturer at the Lambach Agricultural School

Use of the N-Tester is already seen to be changing the way farmers
are using fertilisers, with their application balanced according to
crop needs over the usual three fertilising periods: before the winter,
in April and in May. For example, instead of using 70-80 kg of
N-fertiliser for the first fertilisation, he might now need to apply only
40-50 kg. However, overall the total quantity of applied fertilisers
might remain the same and simply be distributed differently across
the three fertilising periods depending on crop N-measurements.

To increase the benefit of using the N-Tester, Borealis Agrolinz
Melamine has established a database of crop measurement
information from farms across Austria. Access to the database gives
the farmer an overview of actual fertilisation needs in his area.

Increasing yields, preventing rinse-offs

The key is that soil fertilisation specifically measured to crop needs
not only results in improved yield, but this more precise balancing
raises crop-quality to benefit both farmer and consumer. According
to Franz Kastenhuber:

“

The N-Tester has been a valuable complement
in fertilising decisions and data from my own farm show a production
increase of between 10-15%, as well as an improvement in yield
quality.

Franz Kastenhuber —Lecturer at the Lambach Agricultural School

Better dosed, fertilisers are also fully absorbed by the plant
and therefore risks of excessive nutrients rinse-off in water
environment are further prevented.

“Borealis Agrolinz Melamine always seeks to work closely with
farmers to improve the practice of fertilisation,” says Wolfgang
Hofmair.

“

Our commitment is to maximising farmers’ yields and the
quality of their crop while protecting the environment. That is the
driver which ensures the sustainable success of our business.